Time to Show Off

"Damn it, what the hell is this?!" Xiao Yan raised the Mysterious Heavy Ruler, blocking the Blazing Flame spewed by the enormous Flame Giant Bird as he cursed through gritted teeth.

He had been refining pills perfectly well. How had he suddenly ended up in this godforsaken place? This Flame Giant Bird before him was at least at the Dou Wang level!

"Whoosh!" A fierce gust swept in as the Flame Giant Bird flapped its wings, swatting at him like a palm. It was unimaginably fast.

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and lightly kicked up the Mysterious Heavy Ruler. Gathering strength, he swung it down, meeting the wing head-on!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Countless bursts of energy exploded between them in an instant, knocking both of their attacks apart.

Xiao Yan rapidly retreated, driving the Mysterious Heavy Ruler into the illusory ground. His palm clenched into a fist as a powerful force extended from his hand through his entire arm, then surged back into his palm.

His steps were fluid as Xiao Yan appeared directly before the Flame Giant Bird and threw a punch.

"Eight Extremes Collapse!"

His fist struck the giant bird's abdomen. Eight layers of hidden force stacked atop one another, detonating waves of air. The impact directly sent the Flame Giant Bird flying!

"Is this... my strength?" Xiao Yan was startled. He lowered his head and clenched his fist, unable to believe it.

He was only a Dou Shi, yet he had sent a Dou Wang-level Flame Giant Bird flying with one punch? If word got out, how many Dou Wang experts would be ashamed...

A piercing cry that seemed to split the heavens rang out. The Flame Giant Bird slowly rose into the air, its illusory red eyes fixed directly on Xiao Yan.

"Forget it. Only by dealing with it will I have any hope of surviving and finding a way out!" Xiao Yan pulled up the Mysterious Heavy Ruler again and watched the Flame Giant Bird warily.

The Flame Giant Bird flapped its wings, and violent winds howled as they whipped up a scorching fire tornado that swept toward Xiao Yan.

The Purple Cloud Wings behind Xiao Yan instantly unfolded, and he shot into the sky.

"You wild chicken, don't think you're the only one who can fly!" Xiao Yan shouted. The Purple Cloud Wings behind him flapped fiercely, and his speed abruptly soared. In a blur, he had already reached the Flame Giant Bird's head.

He raised the Mysterious Heavy Ruler high. The Green Lotus Core Flame burned continuously in his hand, wrapping around the black ruler. Then he smashed it heavily toward the Flame Giant Bird's head!

The Flame Giant Bird reacted with astonishing speed as well. With a flap of its wings, its entire body tilted slightly to the left. Xiao Yan's strike missed, and the Mysterious Heavy Ruler slammed into the ground, sending ripples across the illusory surface.

The Flame Giant Bird swept its left wing out, instantly striking Xiao Yan in the abdomen and sending his whole body flying. Xiao Yan shot backward as his insides churned violently, before crashing into a barrier-like screen.

Pressing its advantage, the Flame Giant Bird slightly opened its dark-red beak. Scorching energy gathered within its mouth, and then a flaming Light Pillar erupted forth.

Xiao Yan was alarmed. Ignoring his injuries, he rolled to the right and narrowly dodged the Light Pillar. Then he quickly scrambled to his feet and began running without pause.

The Flame Giant Bird flapped its wings, its body and head turning along with Xiao Yan's running path. Its breath attack rapidly shifted as well, sweeping across everything behind the youth.

"Damn it, this can't go on!" Xiao Yan gritted his teeth. This damn bird was too agile and could attack from range. He had to get close to hurt it.

With that thought, Xiao Yan had an idea. He raised the black ruler in his hand and swung it directly at the Flame Giant Bird.

The giant bird dodged again, but its breath attack was interrupted. Seeing this, Xiao Yan immediately activated his movement technique.

Mysterious Rank Mid Grade movement technique, Explosive Steps!

With each step spanning dozens of meters, Xiao Yan instantly rushed before the giant bird. He raised his right hand, flames mixed with violent wind gathering in his palm before he slammed it toward the bird.

The Flame Giant Bird's eyes blazed even more fiercely. Its right wing became a blade as it swept upward. Before the youth's right arm could strike, it was severed by the sharp feathers!

Xiao Yan let out a muffled groan and endured the agonizing pain, yet a flash of delight and madness appeared in his eyes.

His unsevered left hand rose, and a powerful suction force burst from his palm.

Just as the Flame Giant Bird was about to move, it felt its slender neck receive a heavy blow from behind. The giant bird let out a long cry, and its entire body suddenly stiffened.

"Die!" Xiao Yan grinned. His feet kicked fiercely off the ground, and as he rose, he swiftly seized the handle of the Mysterious Heavy Ruler lodged behind the giant bird's neck.

The pitch-black ruler began to shine with a dazzling light. Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened as he controlled the Mysterious Heavy Ruler and slashed down. Countless red rays burst from the black ruler's surface, transforming into a red energy blade two zhang wide that cleaved into the thigh-thick neck.

Earth-tier Low Grade Dou Skill, Flame Splitting Wave Crushing Ruler!

Light burst in every direction, and scorching airwaves scattered. This point-blank strike actually shook the entire space.

After roughly a dozen seconds, the light weakened and the smoke slowly dispersed.

Xiao Yan knelt on one knee, his hands still held in the slashing posture. The Flame Giant Bird stood silently in place.

"Crack."

A shattering sound rang out. Fine cracks began spreading from the Flame Giant Bird's severed neck, gradually covering its entire body. In the end, the flames around the Flame Giant Bird dissipated, and its body shattered into countless white fragments.

"Whew, whew, whew..." Xiao Yan rolled over and sat heavily on the ground. Looking at the white fragments of light filling the sky before him, the tension finally left his face. Even after the battle was over, it still felt unreal.

Had he really slain a Dou Wang-level Monster?

Then he recalled the power of the Dou Skill he had just used, along with the nearly sixty percent of Dou Qi still remaining in his body. The strange feeling only grew stronger.

In the past, even at his peak, a single use of Flame Splitting Wave Crushing Ruler would drain seven or eight tenths of his Dou Qi. Now, it was as if his Dou Qi reserves had multiplied several times over.

Just then, several large words suddenly appeared before his eyes:

"First Floor Trial, passed!"

Those white fragments did not dissipate. Instead, they suddenly surged toward Xiao Yan.

Thinking it was some kind of follow-up attack, he hurriedly controlled the Mysterious Heavy Ruler to block them. However, the white fragments passed straight through the ruler and shot directly into Xiao Yan's body!

"This is..." Xiao Yan was baffled as those fragments of light continuously poured into his body.

Then his body suddenly jerked, his eyes rolled back, and another wave of dizziness swept over him.

The next moment, a bright light flashed before Xiao Yan's eyes. When he regained his senses, he found himself once more in the familiar arena.

He looked around, then at his hands, which were still continuously feeding Dou Qi and Heavenly Flames into the Medicine Cauldron. His eyes were filled with confusion.

However, he could feel that the previous exhaustion in his soul had completely vanished! Moreover, he could clearly sense that his Soul Power had become considerably stronger than ever before!

Xiao Yan could not help looking toward the Pink-haired Girl. He saw her blinking her lovely blue-violet eyes, looking at him with a somewhat smug expression.

He immediately understood. All of this had been part of the Young Girl's carefully arranged plan!

"Mr. Yan Xiao, don't stare at me like that! Please focus, or your pill won't turn out well!" Seeing the complicated look in Xiao Yan's eyes, Liuli smiled softly and teased him.

Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze and looked at his pill again. The fused Medicinal Liquid had already completely turned dark red.

The Second Pill Fusion process had been fully completed!

Xiao Yan smiled faintly and glanced at Liuli again. He lightly patted the Medicine Cauldron with both hands and said with a smile, "Since so many people are hoping I'll make a move, and some have even spared no effort to help me, then I'll put on a show for once!"

The cauldron lid was thrown open, and azure flames surged into the sky, transforming into a floating Flame Lotus bud that was poised to bloom. Within that bud was the fully fused Medicinal Liquid of the Crimson Firmament Spirit Pill!

His actions caused the entire venue to erupt in an uproar.

"Wh-what is he doing?!" Hai Bodong immediately stood up, staring at the scene in utter confusion.

"Who takes out a pill before it has even formed from the Medicine Cauldron?" Yao Ye, seated in the back, frowned as well.

"That pill was already difficult enough to refine. And now he does this... Sigh! Has he given up?" Nalan Jie looked at the Heavenly Flames lotus bud in the sky and sighed regretfully.

Yet Fa Ma alone stared blankly at the scene, several traces of excitement appearing on his aged face.

"That's right, this technique... it really is him! It really is him!" Fa Ma muttered, trembling slightly.

"What's wrong?" Jia Xingtian was startled by Fa Ma's reaction. It was difficult to imagine that an Old Man past a hundred years old could experience such emotional upheaval.

"His Master may very well—no, must be—the legendary strong individual who guided me back then!" Fa Ma turned his head, immense delight flashing through his eyes.

"What?!" Jia Xingtian was equally stunned.

He had heard Fa Ma speak of it before. Back then, a mysterious Old Man in white had traveled to the Jia Ma Empire. By a stroke of fate, he had spent three days in a cave with the young Fa Ma and casually taught Fa Ma some Alchemy skill. From then on, Fa Ma's alchemy skill had advanced by leaps and bounds, and he had rapidly risen to prominence within the Jia Ma Empire. Now, he had become the representative of the Jia Ma Empire's Alchemist Guild.

That alone showed just how terrifying this mysterious Alchemist's strength was.

"Then everything makes sense. Peerless talent in alchemy, and he has even subdued Heavenly Flames. Only that senior could have taught such a disciple!" Fa Ma finally recovered from his excitement and calmed himself. The way he looked at Xiao Yan also became much gentler.

Seeing this scene, Yan Li looked at the pill within the Heavenly Flames lotus bud, which was still merely a pool of dark-red liquid, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Yan Xiao, are you admitting defeat already? I never expected you to take it out directly. In this Alchemist Competition, the Jia Ma Empire's greatest spy can only be you! You're killing me!"

Xiao Yan did not respond. He merely raised his head toward the azure lotus bud and softly uttered one word with a smile: "Refine!"

Within the Heavenly Flames lotus bud, the dark-red Medicinal Liquid was continuously roasted by the Heavenly Flames. It slowly wriggled and gradually began to solidify!